North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Canada 2012

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54 - Professional, scientific and technical services

This sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in activities in which human capital is the major input. These establishments make available the knowledge and skills of their employees, often on an assignment basis. The individual industries of this sector are defined on the basis of the particular expertise and training of the service provider.

The main components of this sector are legal services; accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services; architectural, engineering and related services; specialized design services; computer systems design and related services; management, scientific and technical consulting services; scientific research and development services; and advertising, public relations, and related services.

The distinguishing feature of this sector is the fact that most of the industries grouped in it have production processes that are almost wholly dependent on worker skills. In most of these industries, equipment and materials are not of major importance. Thus, the establishments classified in this sector sell expertise. Much of the expertise requires a university or college education, though not in every case.

Establishments primarily engaged in providing instruction and training in a wide variety of subjects and those primarily engaged in providing health care by diagnosis and treatment are not included in this sector.

541 - Professional, scientific and technical services

This subsector comprises establishments primarily engaged in activities in which human capital is the major input. These establishments make available the knowledge and skills of their employees, often on an assignment basis. The individual industries of this subsector are defined on the basis of the particular expertise and training of the service provider.

The main components of this subsector are legal services; accounting, tax preparation, bookkeeping and payroll services; architectural, engineering and related services; specialized design services; computer systems design and related services; management, scientific and technical consulting services; scientific research and development services; and advertising, public relations, and related services.

The distinguishing feature of this subsector is the fact that most of the industries grouped in it have production processes that are almost wholly dependent on worker skills. In most of these industries, equipment and materials are not of major importance. Thus, the establishments classified in this subsector sell expertise. Much of the expertise requires a university or college education, though not in every case.

Establishments primarily engaged in providing instruction and training in a wide variety of subjects and those primarily engaged in providing health care by diagnosis and treatment are not included in this subsector.

5416 - Management, scientific and technical consulting services

This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing expert advice and assistance to other organizations on management, environmental, scientific and technical issues.

  • Exclusion(s)

    • providing expert advice and assistance to other organizations on architectural and engineering issues (See 5413 Architectural, engineering and related services)
    • providing expert advice and assistance to other organizations on interior, industrial and graphic design issues (See 5414 Specialized design services)
    • providing expert advice and assistance to other organizations on information technology issues (See 5415 Computer systems design and related services)
54161 - Management consulting services

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing advice and assistance to other organizations on management issues, such as strategic and organizational planning; financial planning and budgeting; marketing objectives and policies; human resource policies, practices and planning; and production scheduling and control planning.

  • Exclusion(s)

    • providing financial asset management services (See 523920 Portfolio management)
    • providing investment advice (See 523930 Investment advice)
    • planning and designing industrial processes and systems (See 541330 Engineering services)
    • planning and designing computer systems (See 54151 Computer systems design and related services)
    • developing and implementing public relations plans (See 541820 Public relations services)
    • developing and conducting marketing research or public opinion polling studies (See 541910 Marketing research and public opinion polling)
    • providing office or general administrative services on a day-to-day basis (See 561110 Office administrative services)
541611 - Administrative management and general management consulting servicesUS

This Canadian industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing advice and assistance to other organizations on administrative management issues, such as financial planning and budgeting; equity and asset management; records management; office planning; strategic and organizational planning; site selection; new business start-up; and business process improvement. This Canadian industry also includes general management consultants that provide a full range of administrative; human resource; marketing; process, physical distribution and logistics; or other management consulting services to clients.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • administrative management consultants
    • business start-up consulting services
    • financial management consulting services (except investment advice)
    • reorganization consulting service
    • site selection consulting services
    • strategic planning consulting services

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • providing financial asset management services (See 523920 Portfolio management)
    • providing investment advice (See 523930 Investment advice)
    • providing office or general administrative services on a day-to-day basis (See 561110 Office administrative services)
541612 - Human resources consulting servicesUS

This Canadian industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing advice and assistance to other organizations on human resources management issues, such as human resource and personnel policies, practices and procedures; employee benefits planning, communication, and administration; compensation systems planning; wage and salary administration; and executive search and recruitment.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • actuarial consulting services
    • labour relations consulting services
    • personnel management consulting services

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • providing professional and management development training (See 611430 Professional and management development training)
541619 - Other management consulting servicesCAN

This Canadian industry comprises establishments, not classified to any other Canadian industry, primarily engaged in providing advice and assistance to other organizations on management issues.

  • Illustrative example(s)

    • freight rate consulting services
    • logistics management consulting services
    • operations research consulting services
    • physical distribution consulting services
    • tariff consulting services
    • telecommunications management consulting services

    All examples

  • Exclusion(s)

    • planning and designing industrial processes and systems (See 541330 Engineering services)
    • providing computer systems integration and design services (See 541514 Computer systems design and related services (except video game design and development))
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